The study found, among other things, that daughters of fathers without traditional gender stereotypes were more likely to become interested in mathematics and science-related fields than their stereotyped counterparts.

The study, conducted in the Ann Arbor area from 1987 through 2000, followed three groups of children and their parents to determine the level of influence childhood has on career choice. More than 800 children and 500 parents participated in the study.

Women have historically been underrepresented in fields like computer science and engineering, said Pamela Davis-Keane, a U-M psychologist with the Institute of Social Research.

Daughters whose parents encouraged math and science involvement earned better grades in those subjects and felt more confident in their computing abilities, Davis-Keane said. Daughters of parents who showed apathy toward math and science shied away from those fields.

Davis-Keane said even though they didn't realize it, many parents in the study spent more time developing math and science interest in their sons than in their daughters.

"The differences are very subtle - it may be in the types of toys the parents bought for their children or just in conversation,'' Davis-Keane said.

So if your daughter doesn't do well in math, it's your fault dad. Happy Father's Day!

It's right before bedtime and Sylvia is about to flip out about something -- that a page of her picture book is "broken" (read: torn, by her, days before) and that she can't have three more handfuls of popcorn after we said "one more."

Before I have a chance to ask, "What's wrong, Syl?" my husband walks up behind her, lifts her up into his arms, and carries her over his shoulder. "MAMA! NO! Mom-me-ee-ee!!!" she yells, upside down.

My eyes are shooting darts at Aron's back. By surprising her from behind, he's made it worse. He just barrels on in, not giving her a chance to calm down. Now she's never going to go to sleep. It's just so ...

And then, from upstairs, giggling. And then, the low murmur of story reading. And then, silence. And then a triumphant husband, breezing down the stairs, as if it were all a bunch of nothing. "What a sweetie she is," he says.

I learn this lesson at least once a week: I confuse Aron's parenting style with being "wrong." I apparently think, especially in my weaker moments, that he should do exactly as I do. But his way often works just as well as mine if not better.

The story goes on to describe six ways dads' parenting styles usually differ from moms', even putting a sunny spin on their inherent inability to dress kids in clothes that match!